Top Marlins prospect Fernandez added to roster

Sunday

Mar 31, 2013 at 5:51 PM

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Top pitching prospect Jose Fernandez was among seven players added to the Miami Marlins’ roster ahead of Monday’s opener at Washington and is scheduled to make his major league debut April 7 against the Mets in New York.

The unexpected addition of Fernandez was made Sunday following injuries to right-handers Nathan Eovaldi and Henderson Alvarez. The pair, who had been in the Marlins’ projected rotation, were put on the 15-day disabled list because of shoulder inflammation, Eovaldi retroactive to March 24 and Alvarez to March 27.

Miami also added right-handers John Maine and Kevin Slowey to its 40-man roster along with reliever Chad Qualls, first baseman Casey Kotchman, outfielder Austin Kearns and infielder Chris Valaika. Alex Sanabia was recalled from the minors and will join the rotation along with Slowey.

Ricky Nolasco will start the Marlins’ opener Monday at Washington, Slowey will start the second game of the series and left-hander Wade LeBlanc will start the finale.

Eovaldi and Alvarez are expected to be sidelined for about a month.

First baseman Joe Mahoney (intercostal strain) and catcher Jeff Mathis (broken right collarbone) also were put on the 15-day DL, both retroactive to March 22.

First baseman Logan Morrison was placed on the 60-day disabled list while he recovers from knee surgery last September. Right-hander Jose Ceda and outfielder Alfredo Silverio also went on the 60-day DL.

Left-hander Scott Maine, right-hander Evan Reed, outfielder Gorkys Hernandez and third baseman Zack Cox were designated for assignment. The Marlins have 10 days to trade them, release them or assign them outright to the minors.

Fernandez was selected by the Marlins with the 14th overall pick in the 2011 amateur draft and hasn’t pitched above Class A. The 20-year-old was part of the Marlins’ spring training camp this year, then was assigned to Double-A Jacksonville.

A 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander, Fernandez came to the United States by boat as a Cuban refugee in 2008. He was 14-1 with a 1.75 ERA in 25 games in the minor leagues last year.

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